Former Yankees draft pick playing with new kidney
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 16, 2011 
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I first mentioned Wake Forest outfielder Kevin Jordan back in February, and even though his connection to the Yankees no longer means very much, his story is still pretty amazing.
Jordan was the Yankees 19th-round draft pick in 2010, but he decided to go to college instead. He left knowing about a severe autoimmune disorder, and within a few months of joining the Wake Forest team, Jordan badly needed a new kidney. His parents weren’t a match, but Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter was tested and volunteered to be the donor.
This month, Jordan is back at practice.
“This was the best day of my coaching career — by far,” Walter said on the day practice opened. “Just to see him back out here and doing what he loves to do. This is what this has always been about.”
It’s barely a Yankees story, and it’s only partially a baseball story, but it’s an awfully good story.
“This is what I’ve been doing for the last decade or more,” Jordan said, “And I don’t know what to do with the free time. And I really don’t know what I would do (during) the summer without baseball.”
Pretty good story. If he’d signed with the Yanks after being drafted instead of going to Wake Forest, I wonder who would have donated a kidney. Bless the Wake coach.
Yankees baseball story or not, this is still a great one.
Thanks for providing a warm fuzzy today, Chad. God bless them one and all.
Read the links in the story for more. I don’t think I ever ran a 6.5 60 in my life.
Whenever you start to lose faith in the human race, reading stories like this helps to restore it.
Aside from politics and all the hubris, connecting and helping fellow shareholders of this earth should be the foremost concern that we have. I cannot imagine the depth of concern for others that would lead to donating your kidney. It is not a decision entered into lightly.
What a gift to give to someone.
What a wonderful story. Thanks for the update, Chad.
Everyone knows I’m big on Gardner, but I know the little guy will be gone one day. Never thought of a team trading for Gardner and by giving the Yankees that “missing piece”. Always thought he’d be part of a bigger trade in a couple of years.
I don’t see the Yankees trading him at all until they resolve RF and find a solution in LF. What do the Yankees do with Granderson? Do the Yankees hold on to Gardner until that is solved?
Anyway, RAB has a post on the Nationals looking at Gardner for their outfield and leadoff hitter.
http://riveraveblues.com/2011/.....als-57846/
until that is *resolved*
Nice story, but should the headline really say “playing with new kidney”????
“Playing after kidney transplant” would be more sensible
Beautiful story, thanks Chad. It hits home for me as a close relative died of complications from kidney disease many years ago. The transplant technology back then was not nearly as good as it is now. Now transplants have a much, much greater chance of success. Good luck to young Jordan.
austinmac October 16th, 2011 at 9:38 am
If Sherman is right then stove will not cold and not hot this winter. Frankly, I watched the Rangers dismantle the Tigers and came away believing they are the best team in the league and are young enough they will continue to improve. Standing pat is not, IMO, a winning solution.
*********
It figures the two pitchers I covet most are overvalued by their GM’s according to Sherman. The Giants won’t trade Cain? He’s in a walk year. The A’s want an ace in return for Gio? Kind of defeats the purpose of trading for him. And don’t the A’s desperately need offense
Another thing…last deadline it was Sherman who reported that the Yankees would be willing to “pay big” for Gio. That was ignored here on LOHUD and is still being ignored. Meanwhile, now that Sherman says one of his connections believes Montero is staying, Sherman is being praised for being a legitimate rumor source because of his supposedly reliable connections within the Yankees org.
If you’re going to accept his reports on Montero, it’s hypocritical to discard his reports about the Yankees lust for Gio.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
The Yankees could want Gio and even be willing to “pay big” for him, but it could be they already looked into him and Oakland wants too much, and it does not mean they should or are willing to trade Montero for him.
Than what do you suppose Sherman’s source meant by “pay big”?
And why do you suppose the A’s are demanding an “ace in return” instead of the offense they desperately need?
And while the Yankees have “stopped calling the Giants on Cain” why do you suppose Sherman didn’t state that the Yankees have also “stopped calling” the A’s on Gio? And why do you suppose the paragraph where Cain and Gio are both mentioned seems to merely suggest the Yankees stopped calling the A’s without actually saying the Yankees have stopped calling the A’s?
The Yanks supposedly lusted for Jimenez too and we know how that turned out.
You would think Bret would have learned by now to take all these rumors with a grain of salt, but he obviously never learns.
The Yanks were going to get Crawford, Soria, and Jimenez and none of them even came close to happening.
Rumors mills are full of BS.
You sound jilted, Bret.
Some of us take anything everyone says with a grain of salt.
Few believed that Cashman was going to trade for Gio because Billy Beane would want a haul for him wouldn’t accept a package that did not include Montero.
Most people would believe that the Yankees won’t trade Montero because it’s logical. I know people think Cashman tried to throw him away, but in reality he was trying to get Halladay and Lee.
Those two ships have sailed, so maybe they head in another direction. That means holding onto Montero and waiting for other pitching options to present themselves.
The point is that Sherman is being ignored when convenient to one’s viewpoint and praised when his reports confirm one’s viewpoint.
I agree that the Yankees would be hard-pressed to move Montero (as reported by the one source cited by Sherman).
Let’s just be clear about that.
“pay big” can mean anything, it doesn’t have to include Montero. “Pay big” to the guy who said it could mean Betances + Gardner + Nunez, or something like that. In case you haven’t noticed, hardly anyone else thinks Montero for Gio would be a good trade.
What happened to Ainge, Santiago, and Don Kelly ?
Sherman isn’t right all the time. Or even most of the time. Half of what he throw out there are his own scenarios.
I think the way the Yankees operate now is you won’t hear about it until it’s done. Even with the Jiminez deal, the deal was dead for days and you kept hearing stuff coming out in the media.
So, if I hear a rumor I try to think like the Yankees think. They’ve been much more conservative with their moves lately, in part because they have a good team. But they also have a good farm system to dip into if there’s a hole that needs to be filled.
So this winter, I think Cashman locks up CC then focuses on getting another starter (or two), a LH relief pitcher, and a veteran to be the 4th OF.
Not all rumors are BS which is why they are discussed. True it may be frustrating to some that truths are more often hidden and lies more often spread, but that arrangement does not license anyone to smother or attempt to quell all discourse pursuant of every possible outcome. While truth is difficult to realize, it’s not mathematically impossible. That’s why there is discussion. If you don’t like conversation on a given topic, you can choose not to converse on it. If all the lies turn you off, you don’t have to talk about it. What’s the point of talking about an event or body of information if you believe you already know all possible outcomes?
jacksquat October 16th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
In case you haven’t noticed, hardly anyone else thinks Montero for Gio would be a good trade.
**********
Perhaps…but you can’t use Sherman to justify that viewpoint. That’s all I’m saying.
I didn’t say all rumors are BS. I said the rumor mill is full of BS.
Big difference between the two.
Bret, I have no problem with you proposing Montero for Gio or any other trade, the only problem I have is you repeat the same idea incessantly. We get it, you really really like Gio Gonzalez. Maybe come up with some other ideas though.
Discussion, rumors, and discourse are welcome, but you threw out the “h” word. Them’s fightin’ words.
You were like if you trust the left hand, you have to trust the right hand. But sometimes the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing! Especially when it comes to journalists. Their job is to get people talking about and chasing a sto
*story
Most of whatever these jerk off say is BS. Sherman to Heyman to Lupica to every ESPN employee, they’re all full of crap.
I think Bret’s trying to be logical, here. The catch is that the information we’re working with is imperfect. Further, we don’t know which bits of information are more accurate than others.
I think the Yanks are being more conservative, as m suggested. It’s not like the old days with George.
Jacksquat,
90% of my past 100 posts have not mentioned Gio Gonzalez. Just because you only recognize the 10%, does not confirm that I have repeated the “same idea incessantly”. And this conversation shouldn’t be about an objective or subjective analysis of one poster’s comments. I suspect what you don’t like about my posts are that I don’t come up with ideas that fit your viewpoint. And frankly, I’m not here to gauge what you want to hear from me and try to fit those ideas into what you consider acceptable or interesting. No offense.
Bret, I don’t care if you post ideas I don’t agree with, happens all the time here. I’m many don’t agree with a lot of what I post also. It just feels like I keep hearing about Gio almost every day. Kind of like with Crawford last year.
I’m *sure* many…
Another reason why the Yankees don’t do many deals is because of the ridiculous cost. People will claim there’s no Yankee tax, but there definitely is. Cashman talks about it and how he won’t get robbed for middling talent. An ESPN writer actually mentioned it in one of their articles, I was floored because I had been told that there’s no such thing.
m,
I agree there is a Yankees tax. But I also have a theory that Cashman is not the most charismatic person when it comes to building working relationships with the rest of the field of GM’s out there in MLB. I suspect his character contributes to some GM’s unwillingness to negotiate with him in good faith.
I first witnessed Cashman’s abrasive manner when ESPN aired one of his calls to Jeffrey Moorad when Moorad was representing Manny Ramirez at the same time Mussina was a free agent. In short, Cashman came across as pushy. He said the Yankees didn’t have time because they had other things they want to pursue. That ticked off Moorad and Ramirez. Cashman was peeved when he found out ESPN aired that negotiation.
Lately, Cashman has been blurting out borderline obnoxious statements towards Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, ownership, and another GM. Whenever I listen to guys like Pat M. or Randy who still have connections to people in the game, I get the impression that GM’s don’t like him. True, they fear the Yankees and don’t want to give them any advantage but I suspect their inability to reach common ground with him might also contribute to this perception of a “Yankee tax”.
I used to really like Brian Cashman.
I’m neutral now and I can tell you that my Yankee fan friends offline don’t think he’s any kind of exceptional GM at all. I honestly don’t think fans would feel too devastated if he was replaced with someone else a little more charismatic.
Cashman will soon sign a new deal and will remain as stealth as he ever was. There may not be another sports executive that understands the workings of the NYC media better than Cashman does. He’s well aware of who is subject to leaks, one upsmanship, and fabricated journalism.
It seems that while bret is berating people only picking and chosing on what to acceot from Sherman and others, he seems to skip past the parts that don’t fit his daily yammerings about Gonzales….like this little part of the artice on page 2.
”
For those on the Matt Cain bandwagon, I heard the Giants have made it so clear they are not trading him that the Yankees have not asked about the righty in “years.” The A’s want a No. 1 starter return for Gio Gonzalez, and the Yankees don’t view him as an ace.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....z1aydILEHP
From what I can gather, Cashman is respected by other front offices.
I suspect that many of the other GM’s are operating under direct orders to make it difficult for the Yankees.
Angelos and Moreno are 2 owners who come to mind right away.
There’s a lot of flattery in imitation. Now other teams are picking up the salary dumps at the trade deadline to help their push. So those moves aren’t there for the Yankees as often as they were. Of course teams are using the money they get from the Yankees!
I don’t like some of the comments that Cashman, but for years people complained about giving these guys legacy contracts. So in that way, Cashman is doing more of what people wanted which is to play hardball with their own players.
I don’t think it’s his personality that turned Jack Z. away from a trade with Cliff Lee. I think he just outsmarted himself. Of course, he looks stupid now.
If a team can improve themselves, they’ll do trades with the Yankees. Arizona, Detroit, and the Yankees all came out on top with their trades. A rare feat in sports.
Bret – Obviously, I don’t have any inside info, so I’m working on imperfect data, as are we all. But, from what I’ve read over time, and heard on MLB TV, Cash is reported as quite well respected.
Now, I didn’t hear the ESPN piece you’re referring to, so I can’t say anything intelligent about that. I will say that we should take what randy says about him with a lot of salt – randy very clearly has an problem with Cash, as he seems to with a lot of front office people. But that’s another topic.
But, Cash’s personality seemed to be good enough to successfully recruit CC. And, he seemed to do well enough to convince Tex that this was a better landing spot than Boston (OK, so Lucchino gave him a big assist on that one). And, he did pull off a complicated 3-way trade to bring in Curtis Granderson. Jim Leyland, during the playoff series, commented about the classy way all three teams and GMs worked on that one. So, there is evidence to the contrary about Cash’s contrariness.
As far as public charisma, I don’t know how important that is to be successful as a GM.
Most Yankee fans don’t care if the Yankee GM is charismatic or not as long as he continues to put a strong team on the field.
GB,
People who read all my posts from today know that I specifically mentioned that paragraph you quoted. Welcome to the conversation.
Yogi Mantle October 16th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
….Aside from politics and all the hubris, connecting and helping fellow shareholders of this earth should be the foremost concern that we have….
////
Yogi, well said. I couldn’t agree more.
m,
Just to be clear. I believe Jack Z is worse at what he does than Cashman. I’m not saying that Cashman is the only person with a less-than-ideal makeup to be an effective GM. There are probably several GM’s who are disliked in GM circles and their character limits their ability to find common ground and compromise on deals that may benefit all parties involved.
What exactly is the controversy here?
All Sherman said is the Yankees don’t view Gio as a #1 so they wouldn’t pay the Ace level demanding price the A’s want.
If you read it, why do you keep insisting the Yankees should deal off the top prospects for someone they clearly don’t feel is worth the cost? Trust me….most people stop reading your long-winded and repetitive rants. This is a repeat of your Dejesus rants. sort of “Groundhog Day”.
“I suspect his character contributes to some GM’s unwillingness to negotiate with him in good faith.”
Like how I want to bet you that the Yankees won’t sign Prince Fielder but I can’t negoatiate a bet with you in good faith because you still haven’t paid off your losing bet that the Yanks would sign Carl Crawford?
Even if the Yankees wanted Gio and were willing to part with Montero for him, Montero ALONE is not enough for a #1 starter.
The Yankee source said if he was a betting man he believes Jesus stays.
So, even if the Yankees are willing to trade Montero for Gio it is still likely he remains with the Yankees because they don’t want to pay the Ace level return the A’s want.
No controversy here unless you make yourself crazy with trade rumors.
Joe,
Charm precedes persuasion. Some of the best negotiators leave you feeling like they really care about you and understand your perspective, that they gave you what you want in exchange for what thy need. Smooth talking is an art. I believe charisma, public and/or private manifests in beneficial material outcomes.
And to be clear, I believe he will be returning as GM as well. It’s not bad for the team because he knows the inner workings of the franchise and the media. But it’s not the best thing for the team.
What do people see in Tony Romo?
Cashman couldn’t have survived 13 years in the NY fishbowl without being pretty good at what he does.
And only missing the postseason once during that span.
He had been compared, unfavorably, by many on this blog (and in the media) to Theo and has achieved more success.
I think other GM’s appreciate Cashman’s honesty, integrity, and tight-lipped approach.
Cashman has a good track record of honest dealings when dealing with other GM’s. I think you might be projecting your own feelings here.
In my honest opinion, it’s an ego thing with the owners. As long as these owners have had their teams, it’s been Yankees, Yankees, Yankees. It’s their way of sticking it to the man. They want to win, so why help the strongest team in baseball?
Nick in SF October 16th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Like how I want to bet you that the Yankees won’t sign Prince Fielder but I can’t negoatiate a bet with you in good faith because you still haven’t paid off your losing bet that the Yanks would sign Carl Crawford?
———
LOL.
How many times has it been reported that Cashman is one of the most well liked and respected GMs in MLB?
Why else would Kevin Towers, a very well respected GM in his own right, agree to work under Cash for a year?
m,
The track record and public statements indicate “high price tags” and deals that “don’t make sense” for the Yankees. So think you’re off base when you suggest that I’m projecting my own feelings.
And I agree that there is a Yankees tax.
But it’s not as simple as the Yankees are a boogieman, beware.
LGY,
While there are exceptions like Towers and Kenny Williams (who doesn’t he deal with?), I’d suspect that GM’s on the whole don’t find Cashman very charismatic.
Towers wanted to steal Cashman’s proprietary personality.
Bret,
There’s no boogieman, but what you’re saying is that if the Yankees had a more charismatic GM there would be more deals?
m,
I’m saying that if the Yankees had a more charismatic GM, the possibility for favorable deals or equitable deals would increase.
mel has it exactly right.
Bret always projects is own feelings and what he thinks Cashman SHOULD do – not what his track record suggests he’s likely to do (or likely won’t do).
LGY,
While there are exceptions like Towers and Kenny Williams (who doesn’t he deal with?), I’d suspect that GM’s on the whole don’t find Cashman very charismatic.
———————–
You suspect this based on what? Some narrative you created?
Dave Dombrowski is another one who has spoke very highly of Cash recently. Another GM at the top of the game in terms of the respect he garners.
Bret The Hitman October 16th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
I’m saying that if the Yankees had a more charismatic GM, the possibility for favorable deals or equitable deals would increase.
——–
Which proves how out of touch with reality you really are.
LGY,
I believe some GM’s respect him…but I wonder how compelling he is during trade negotiations. He’s not a bad GM but he’s not the best.
Many teams will not deal fairly with the Yankees. It’s been widely reported, for years, that Peter Angelos will not do any deal with NYY, mostly due to his emnity for George. I wouldn’t expect a deal anytime soon with the LA Angels of Disneyland, either. Ditto the Rays. Mark Anastasio, owner of the Brewers, has complained that the Yanks drive up prices for players; that’s hardly conducive to good working relationships, no? And, now, Nolan Ryan and the Rangers have joined the anti-NYY parade, starting with the Cliff Lee affair.
To me, that all smells of the green monster – envy.
I’m here to discuss baseball. I won’t respond to character attacks.
I think if the Yankees went back to the old ways of giving up prospects and young players for established players, the possibility for favorable deals or equitable deals would increase.
I’ve already given 4 or 5 reasons why the Yankees don’t do many deals. And the Yankee tax is not because Brian’s a DB.
He’s been the GM for 13 years, his personality did not change in the past few years. But the way Yankees do business has changed. And the farm system has improved multi-fold. The power structure changed, not his personality.
Joe,
I agree there’s a Yankees tax. But I don’t think it entirely explains or defines the market. There are always multiple factors that contribute to market inefficiencies.
m,
I never said Brian’s a DB.
Bret,
Who is the best GM?
“I’m here to discuss baseball. I won’t respond to character attacks.”
Will you respond to another request for the $25 you’ve owed me since last December?
Pay up, then I’ll be happy to defend your character.
Or the best 3 actually?
I also never said they should give up prospects for washed up big names like Randy Johnson like in the “old” days. Name one washed up big-name old fart I’ve wanted here in the past 4 years?
The Yankees had the financial might to effectively take advantage of market inefficiencies. But things have changed, the game has grown, and thanks in part to Yankee money teams have money to play ball now. There’s much more parity in the game now. There’s much more money for small market teams to extend their young stars before they hit FA.
That’s about 6 or 7 reasons now.
Bret, do you remember calling Brian Cashman a ‘poosy’?
Seems that ge also had to deal with Dombrowski and Towers at the same time. NYYs can rule out dealing with 5 teams automatically, Orioles, Red Sox, Devil Rays, Blue Jays and Mets. Given the idiotic returns that the Rockies, Mariners, Twins and A’s constantly want for even their second tier talent, and those teams spewing deals in the press while the talks are still going on, you can imagine that Cashman is leery of dealing with them, too. Smith in Minnesota and the fool in Seattle have hurt their own teams dealing with NY by agreeing to deal and then shopping the deal constantly to up the cost.
I was 100% against the Randy Johnson trade, actually.
Pardon me if I missed a report or if my question has already been answered, but have the Yankees very quietly added Zoilo Almonte to the 40-man roster? Before you answer, you might want to check out the transactions for 10/14/2011 on the transactions link under the “Roster” tab at the Yankees official website (as of 4:00 p.m. EDT on 10/16/2011). Admittedly, the Yankee roster and the Trenton roster do not yet show Almonte on the 40-man, but what else could “assigned to the New York Yankees” mean? Almonte was scheduled to become a minor league free agent (he originally signed 7/2/2005) later this month if he was not added to the 40-man.
Nick,
Do you believe that it is more likely I was being serious or venting in an exaggerated way for personal amusement?
I also said that if CC opts out I hope he chokes on a carton of donuts.
C’mon now.
Do I have to be serious all the time?
Hey, if you wanted to do deals, there would be plenty of teams willing to do a Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner type trade. Montero, Banuelos, Betances – whatever overrated name you want. Trade all three for Gio, Ubaldo, whatever the name of the moment is. If George were in his heyday, that might even happen.
Of course not now. My point is that the absence of trade activity is not necessarily a bad thing.
Again, we have no real idea of what other GMs are asking for, or what deals are being proposed. We only know what actually happens, or not. And, none of that reflects solely on one party.
Joe,
Do we really know if Colorado demanded Montero, Banuelos and Betances and never backed down from that demand? And just to be clear, I think that’s an unreasonable ask even if Jimenez regains his dominant form.
If baseball owners wanted charismatic GMs, they’d hire people like Jimmy Swaggert, Marjoe Gortner, Billy Graham and Jim Bakker.
I absolutely believe you were venting, but that was still the word you used to describe Brian Cashman. Whether it was for personal amusement or to release anger is an open question.
I really don’t get why you not only haven’t paid off the $25 bet you lost last December but don’t even seem to want to acknowledge it anymore. This is not the behavior of a stand-up character. You could have sent me $2.50 a month and you’d be paid off by now!
Bret, I believe you have a valid point.
While it’s highly likely that nobody will trade fairly with the Yankees because they are the Yankees, Brian Cashman’s smug and arrogant attitude probably doesnt help matters.
Im not sure what charisma has to do with it, but he certainly is an arrogant, pompous ass. But, he did grow up a Red Sox fan, so that shouldnt surprise anyone here.
I’ll send $25 cash to your PO Box, Nick, as a convoluted apology for the crap Ive perpetrated. And also to clear Bret’s minor debt.
Thanks, C-R, can you also send $25 for stuckey?
He hasn’t paid up either and I don’t think $25 will cover the crap you’ve perpetrated.
Christiano Ronaldo number 9,
I will pay my debt to Nick. I’m going through some stuff in my life here with an unwanted pregnancy.
BTW… Please always post under “Teary Francona”
It’s by far the most clever and entertaining handle you’ve ever used
But, he did grow up a Red Sox fan, so that shouldnt surprise anyone here.
——————————————————————–
Link?
Ill try to find a link. Im 100% sure of it
Ill try to find a link. Im 100% sure of it
————————————–
He grew up in Rockville Centre NY so I highly doubt he was a Sox fan
Stuckey was admittedly on the arrogant side but he was one of the more cerebral posters we’ve had.
Didn’t always agree with him, but at least he presented sensible arguments.
No chance he’s a Sox fan.
I know where he was born, that doesnt preclude him from growing up a Red Sox fan. I know Ive heard it on multiple occasions. Im looking.
You said it.
Pot. Meet Kettle.
not drive-by fans….. The casual fans
I suspect that not even a fly on the wall is privy to discussions between Cashman and any other GM in the game if they’re on the cusp of a deal. More than likely Cashman will ask a GM not to leak info until the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed.
Too many media types looking for an exclusive “Hedda Hopper” story.
Bad, bad 15 car crash at the Las vegas Motor speedway. Injuries and driver Dan Wheldon was killed. Wheldon won the Indy 500 twice, including this year.y
http://espn.go.com/racing/
Teary Francona October 16th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
not drive-by fans….. The casual fans
—
drive-by fans like the Raiders.